poole



Patented Apf. 4,v I899.

T. J. POOLE. AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed Kay 10, 1897.)

8 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNEEIEES THE NORRIS PEYERS ca. momuwo" WLSNINGTON, mV 0 Patented Apr.4, I899. T. J. POOLE.

8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' (Application filed m 10; 1897.)

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FUR PIANDS.

(No llodel.)

\A/ITNESSES Patented Apr. -4, I899. T. J. POOLE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed Bay 10, 1897.3

8 Sheets-Shaet 3.

(No Model.)

MTNESSES s new c0 PHOTO-LIYHQ. wnummm n L No. 622,260. Patented Apr. 4,I899.

T. J. POOLE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR'PIANUS.

v (Application filed ma 'lp, 1897.3 (No Model.) 8 Shuots-$heet 4.

No. 622,260. Patented Apr, 4, I899. T. J. POOLE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

(Applicstion filed Kay 10, 1897.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shut 5.

No. 622,260. Patented Apr. 4, I899. T. J. POOLE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed May 10, 1897.)

8 Sheets8haet 6.

(No Model.)

MTNEEEEE z s PFTEIRS (10.. mom-uwa. was

no. 622,260. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

T. J.'PO0LE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT. FOR PIANOS.

(Application filed May 10, 1897.)

z 3. H 1 a m m j a y gi F W A w n nouns P5TCRS CILPHOTO-LITHQ, As ma ON0 c ESSES III/III WIT fla UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. POOLE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE I AUTONOCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,260, dated April 4,1899.

Application filed May 10, 1897. Serial No. 635,878. (No model.)

.To all rah/07m if; Til/(by concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. POOLE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of l\f[l-SStCl1USOl1lTS,llLV6 invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Playing Attachments for Pianos, (to. of whichthe fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its object the automatic playing of a pianot'orteby the move ment of, a perforated music-sheet over aird nets incommunication with pneumatic valves and pneumatic bellows for theoperation of the keys of the pianoforte; and the invention consists, incombination with the keys of a pianoforte and perforated music-sheet foroperation thereof, of certain construction and arrangement of therace-board over which the perforated music travels, all substantially ashereinafter fully described; and the in vention also consists of theconstruction and arrangement of other parts in connection therewith forthe proper operation thereof, all substantially as hereinafterfully'described, reference being had to the accompanying sheets ofdrawings, in which is illustrated a pianoforte having this inventionapplied thereto.

Figure 1 represents a front view of the lower part of an uprightpianoforte below a horizontal plane just above the keys and having thisinvention applied thereto, some of the parts being broken out and insection to more fully show the construction and operation.

Fig. 2'is a horizontal section on line 2 2, Fig.

a. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is adetail vertical crosssection similar to Fig. 3, but on an enlargedscale. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view. Fig. 6 is a transverse verticalsection on line 6 6, Fig. 1, the parts being enlarged. Fig. 7 is adetail plan view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is adetail sectional view similar to Fig. i, but with some of the parts indifferent positions. Fig. 9 is a detail rear view. Fig.

10 is a detail side view and section on line 10 10, Fig. 11 is a detailside view and see- Fig. 12 is a detail Fig. tion on line 11 11, Fig. 2..rear view and vertical section of the raceway over which the perforatedm usic-sheet travels. Fig. 18'is a detail sectional and side View to behereinafter referred to. Figs. let, 14:, 1 1", 11, 1. 1, and 1 1represent in perspective the several parts separate from each other,forming the raceway over which the perforated music-sheet travels. Figs.15 and 16 represent in vertical cross-section on two separate lines theraceway formed by the attaching together of the several parts shown inFigs. 1 L to 14:, inclusive, and showing the air-passages through it.Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on line 17 17, Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is avertical section 011 line 18 18, Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is'a plan view of oneend of the perforated music-sheet.

In the drawings is represented an upright pianoforte constructed andarranged for operation in the usual manner of making up rightpianofortes and needing no particular description herein, except so faras it is necessary in the description of the present invention and itsconnections therewith, and in the drawings A represents the case orframe of an upright piano, and B the piano-action, constructed in theusual manner, of which action 0 is a key.

D represents an electric motor or any suitable motive power, and from apulley E on its shaft F runs a belt G upward to another larger pulley11, secured on one end of a horizontal shaft J, adapted to turn inbearings in the framework of the piano-case. On the other end of thisshaft J is a pulley K, which connects by a belt L with another pulley Mon a horizontal shaft N, turning in bearings in supports P near thebottom of the pianocase, to which shaft N are connected three separateand independent crank arms a, which are also connected to movable boardsQ, respectively, of three separate vertical ex haust-bellows R, whichare attached to and communicate with a vertical wind-chest S back of theexhausters. (Shown more particularly in Fig. 3.) At one end of thiswindchest S is an exhaust-bellows T, supported edgewise on supports Z),communicating with the wind-chest by openings d. (Shown in dotted lines,Fig. 1.)

As the motor is operated the shafts J and N are revolved and theexhausters R operated, which exhausts the air from the wind-chest S andbellows T in the usual manner of eX- haustbellows. Connected to andcommunieating with one end of the exhaust-bellows T are two tubes of,which lead therefrom and are connected, respectively, with the ends of aprimary pneumatic box U, secured to the under side of the key-bed V ofthe piano-case and between two upright boards 1V. These tubes formcommunication between the chamber of the exhaust-bellows T and chamber gof primary box U.

Below the primary pneumatic box U are four horizontal rows of pneumaticbellows A, one above the other, the upper or stationary boards 7t ofwhich are secured to the under sides of four boards 13, respectively,horizontally arranged and secured to the uprights XV. These boards 13,to which the pneumatic bellows A are attached, are beveled transverselyupon their under sides, so that when the pneumatic bellows attachedthereto are open their movable boards at will be horizontal, orsubstantially so.

There is one pneumatic bellows for each key of the piano desired to beoperated; but for the better adaptation of this invention to variousscales of pianos in the manufacture of this attachment for general use afew more of the pneumatic bellows are added than necessary for thenumber of keys to be operated, so that in adapting the attachmentto thevarious scales of different manufacturers of pianofortes the pneumaticbellows to be operated will all be in line or each substantially underthe rear end of the key to be operated, so that the connections betweenthe pneumatic bellows can be satisfactorily and practicall y arranged.

Between the upperboard, to which the upper row of pneumatic bellows A issecured, and primary pneumatic box U is an open space 2'. Screwing intothe rear end of each movable board on of each of these pneumatic bellowsis a screw-eye G, on which rests the lower end of an upright rod orsticker D, it being held in place thereon bya pin q2,disposed in the eyeG and projecting downward from the end of the sticker. The upper end ofthis rod extends upward through an opening it in a strip u, secured tothe rear of the actionbed V, to the head of a screw o, screwing into theunder side of the end of a key C, as shown in Figs. 3, i, and 9. lVhenthe key and its respective pneumatic bellows are in their normalposition, the screw 4) is turned out sufliciently for its head to beclose to the upper end of the sticker, so that as the sticker is forcedupward by the movement of the pneumatic bellows the key will beimmediately acted upon by the sticker; but the screw should not be sonear to the sticker as to interfere with the movements of the key inplaying the piano by hand. This screw enables proper adjustment of theseparts. These pneumatic bellows necessarily being wider than the keys,are arranged in four horizontal rows in order to get the number requiredwithin the compass of the number of keys used by this attachment in theinstrument, the bellows following one after the other, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 1, from the lower row to the upper row, and so onfor the whole number. In each stationary board of each pneumatic bellowsA is an air'passage to, which leads to and communicates with thepneumatic bellows, a separate passage for each pneumatic bellows, andoutside it is connected by an india-rubber tube 7 with a small tube at,opening into an air-passage Z) in the primary pneumatic box U below itschamber 9. This passage 1) has an opening (1 into the chamber 9 and fromthe under side an opening c into the open air-spacer. In this passage bis a valve E between the two openings (1 and e, having a centralvertical stem f, its lower portion extending downward through theopening 6 and through an opening g in a fixed board 71 which serves as aguide to the valve-stem, and its upper portion extending upward throughthe opening (1 into the box-chambe1-(, and to its upper end is centrallysecured a piece of flexible material n, such as india-rubber, which atits edges is secured at '2" to the block covering a small chamber atabove the chamber 1, forming a flexible diaphragm between the twochambers g and m, which diaphragm is sufficiently flexible to be movedup and down with the valve-stem in its operation, the diaphragm having ahole or opening q through it which allows for the escape of the airtherethrough from one chamber to the other in the operation of thevalve, the diaphragm in its normal position being curved or bent upwardmore or less into the chamber m, as shown in Fig. i. This chamber m hasan air-passage 25 leading through to the outside of the box at thefront.

Extending downward from and secured to the under side of the key-bed isa transverse board F, having a longitudinal row of air ducts or passagesG opening at the lower edge u to the outside. At their upper ends eachcommunicates with a separate passage 4;, extending backward, which isconnected by an india-rubber tube II with the air-passage t in the boxcommunicating with a chamber m in the box U, as shown in Fig. 4. Thisboard F,with the air ducts or passages G, constitutes the raceway, overor under which travels the perforated music-sheet .l, as shown in Figs.3 and i, and in order to make it practical and at as cheap a cost aspossible and at the same time enable the air ducts and passages to be ofsmall size and close together to reduce the raceway-board F to itsshortest length in order that the perforated musicsheet may be quitenarrow the raceway is constructed substantially as follows, asillustrated more particularly in Figs. 11-, 14, 14;", M2144, and 11, theseveral parts L M. N 1 Q B being in detail separated from each other andin perspective. The central board L, Fig. 14, is made by cutting orsawing transverse grooves through its width of on each side,whichalternately extend from each outer side to a line beyond the centrallongitudinal line of the board.

g The piece M, Fig. 149, has a series of holes 0 through its thicknessnear its upper edge d and is secured to the side 0 of the central boardL, closing the sides of the grooves ta but so that its holes 11 areopposite to and communicate with the grooves (t2 on such side, and atthe same time the plain and solid piece N, Fig. 14, is secured to theother side f of the central board L, which closes the sides of thegrooves on such side, which makes the series of passages G of theraceway through the combined piece. On the edge g of the combined pieceis then secured the thin board P, Fig. 14:, having a centrallongitudinal line of holes 7L2 through it, these holes 722 being overthe inner ends or sides of the grooved passages a in both sides of thecentral board L and communicating with each one, because the grooves aeXten d alternately laterally beyond the central longitudinal line ofthe board, as described and as shown in section in Figs. 15 and 16,which are sections respectively through two adjacent grooves a theseholes 7t making the outer ends of the airducts G.

At the same time the board P is secured as above described, the board Q,Fig. 146, having a series of holes m in a longitudinal central linethrough its thickness, and from one edge 71 a series of holes oextending from the edge into the other series of holes m is secured onthe other edge of the combined piece and so that its holes m will beover and communicate with the grooves or passages c in the side f of thecentral board L, and over this board Q, is secured a plain solid stripB, Fig. 1e, which closes the holes 172 to the outside. These holes 7 arethe air-passages t leading from the air-ducts G, as shown in Fig. l.These parts are preferably secured by glue or any suitable adhesivematerial and when all are secured they are planed and trued off on theoutside as desired, the outer surface of the strip P being roundedsomewhat, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, for the free movement of themusic-sheet thereover in its travel.

'Into each hole 0 and r is inserted a small metal tube '6 and over each.is the india-rubber tube 11, extending to and communicating with theair-passage t in the pneumatic box U, these holes 0 and r and tubesbeing arranged alternately in two horizontal rows and overlapping eachother, as shown in Fig. 12 more 'iarticularly.

K is the m usic-roll,on which the perforated music-sheet J is woundbefore being put into the instrument, located in front of the raceway Fand attached to shafts or pinions 10 arranged to turn in bearings insupports n secured to the under side of the key-bed V and adapted to beput into position and re moved therefrom in any of the well-known waysof applying such music-rolls to musical tion herein.

L is the take-up roll, adapted to turn by its.

journals in bearings in two arms a pivoted onthe music-roll shafts w andlocated in rear of the raceway,as shown. On the journal b of the take-uproll L is secured a gear (P, which meshes with a gear c secured on ashaft M, turning by one end in a support f of the key-bed and by itsother end in a sup port g near the end of the piano-case. Secured onthis shaft M is a cone-pulley N, and at its end is a loose pulley P,held in place by a collar 7L2, a belt running from this conepulley overanother cone-pulley Q on the shaft J, as shown in Fig. 2 moreparticularly. The vupper side of the cone-pulley belt m runs through anopening in an end of a shipper-rod 01 which extends therefrom, and byits other end is pivoted to one arm of a bell crank lever B, pivoted atr to the key-bed, the other arm of the bell-crank lever being pivoted toa rod S, which extends toward the front of the keyboard through aguide-opening t in a board 49, secured to the key-bed and having ahandle 11 for operation thereof.

Pulling out or pushing in the rod S, con nected to the shipper-rod n ofthe cone-belt m causes the shaft M to turn respectively faster or slowercorrespondingly, so that its speed and that of the take-up roll,connected therewith by gears, can be varied as desired to cause thesheet to travel faster or slower, as required, to play the tunerepresented thereon correspondingly, which can be done at any timeduring the travel of the musicsheet over the raceway. Pushing the rodfully back the belt m will be moved onto loose pulley P, by which theoperation of the 111 usicsheet will cease.

Secured to the under side of the key-bed is a box 3 in which is arrangedto slide back and forth transversely in relation to the piano a block 00having projecting down from its under side a forked arm T, whichstraddles the shaft M between two flanges a secured thereto andconnected at b to a rod d secured. to the block 00 is one arm c of abell-crank lever U, pivoted atf to the key -bed, its other arm pivotedat g to the end of rod V, extending to the front through a guide-openingh in the board 12 side of the shipper-rod S and having a handle m foroperation. of the same.

, The journal-pin of the music-roll at one end is adapted to engage witha short shaft r turning in a bearing in the block 16 and on this shaftis secured a pulley 6 which is connected by a cross-belt a to a pulley con the shaft M. The pulley o is loose on its shaft M, and attached to itis a circular block 10 having a circumferential groove in which aredisposed two arms a projecting downward from and rigidly secured to theunder side of the action-bed. Projecting from the side of this block 20is a pin 1), and secured to the shaft M are two radial pins d oppositeto each other, and when the shaft M is moved back to disengage itsgear cfrom the take-up-roll gear (1 its movement issuffieient for one ofnormal positions.

the pins (l to engage with the pin Zr of the block 10 and cause it toturn and by the cross-belt a turn the music-roll in a direction thereverse of its motion when a tune is being played to rewind thereon themusicsheet from the take-up roll when desirous of either playing thetune over again or inserting another music-roll with another music-sheetto play another tune.

lVhen the music-sheet is entirely rewound, the rod V is pulled out,which moves the shaft M to the left, its gear 6 again engaging with thetake-up-roll gear (1- and its pins (Z disengaging from the block-pinZ)", so that the take-up roll will be operated to move the music-sheetin playing the tune and the musicsheet roll free to turn for itsmusic-sheet to be unwound therefrom in playing the tune. The frame acarrying the take-up roll, is arranged to swing down on its pivotedbearings into a position at the front of the instrument, (shown indotted lines in Fig. -L,) so that the free end of the music-sheet on themusicroll can be attached thereto in the usual manner when the frame isswung up into its place and locked there by a spring-bolt A in a block13 secured to the action-bed, adapted to fit in a socket in a block c ofthe frame-piece. (Shown in Fig. 13 in detail and enlarged.)

Extending from the end of the movable board 0 of the mainexhaust-bellows T is an arm D to which is connected one end of a spiralspring its other end being disposed in a socket in an extension F of theother board of the bellows, this spring acting by its tension to keepthe exhaust-bellows open.

Connected to the arm D of the exhaustbellows is a rod which extendsforward, and by its other end it is connected by a longitudinal slot Hto one arm of a bell-crank lever J pivoted at f to a support g, itsother arm 71 extending horizontally backward and projecting over ahorizontal lever K pivoted at m to a support and extending toward themiddle of the front of the piano, where its arm a" is connected at r toa pedal L pivoted at 1' to a support H of the bo tom board N The otherarm P of this lever extends toward the side of the case, and on such endrests and bears a vertical rod Q which extends up to and just under therail R against which the hammers S rest by their stems when in theirPressing down on the pedal Uthe lever is pulled down, which raises itsother end and with it the rod Q and the hammer-rail R which swingsforward, movin g the hammers forward, so that when played the blow ofthe hammer upon the string will be much lighter, consequently producinga softer tone, this being the usual soft stop in upright pianos. As thelever moves it raises the arm 71' of the bell-crank J moving its otherarm forward and pulling upon the arm D of the movable board G of theexhaustbellows, moves the board 0 against its spring E and closes thebellows, more orless, accordingly, so that less pressure will be exertedon the air in the wind-chest, and consequently reducing the force of theblow of the key in playing for the purpose of producing lighter touchand softer tones.

In the movable board C of the exhaustbellows T is an opening T into itschamber, over which on the outside of the board is a valve U and securedto this valve and pr0- jecting backward therefrom is an arm V having aslot W in it at right angles to the valve, inwhich is disposed one endof a lever A pivoted at to a support C of the box U and connected by itsother end to a rod D at w, which at its other end is at tached to onearm 3 of a bell-crank lever E", pivoted at F to the under side of thekeybed, the other arm of the bell-crank lever be ing connected at a to arod G arranged to slide freely in supports H and connected by its otherend to the outer end of the arm a of bell-crank U, connected to the armV for moving the shaft M.

The operation of the instrument is as fol lows: The motor D having beenstarted through its shaftand pulley E, motion is communicated to belt Gto pulley II on the shaft J, through belt L to shaft N, which, turning,operates the exhausters R, exhausting the exhaustbellows T andwind-chest S in the usual manner of operating exhaust-bellows formusical instruments. The music-roll K, containing the perforated musicsheet J wound thereon, having been put in place and the outer end of themusic-sheet passed under the raceway and attached to the take-up roll L,motion is communicated to the take-up roll from the shaft J and itscone-pulley Q through the cone-pulley N on shaft M and gears e and (P,which turns it so that the music-sheet is wound upon the take-up rollfrom the music-roll and traveling over the raceway in the direction ofthe arrow I), Fig. -l-. As the music-sheet so travels when a perforationIf comes over an air-duct 7L air enters therein and passes through thepassage G, through passage 0 into the chamber at, and presses down theflexible head a of the primary pneumatic valve E, and in such movementsthe valve being moved downward it opens the opening (1 and closes theopening 6, as shown in Figs. 8 and 18 more particularly, causing the airto be drawn from the pneumatic bellows A through the tube 7 and passageZ) into the wind-chest chamber g, closing the pneumatic bellows, whichin such movement raises the sticker D, and consequently the rear end ofthe key C, which operates the action and causes the hammer to strike thestring, sounding the same. As the unperforated portion of the inusic-sheet comes over the air-duct the air is cut olf from entering thesame, when from the operation of the exhaust-bellows the air exhaustedfrom the chamber 9 causes the pneumatic valve E to rise, the escape ofair through the opening q in the diaphragm allowing for the movement ofthe diaphragm upward, and thus the "ante valve with it, closing theopening (1', and the air then enters at the opening e into passage 1),and passing to and filling the pneumatic bellows lowers its board m andsticker and the key, all the parts falling into position for the nextoperation thereof, as before, when a perforation in the sheet comes overits respective air-duct in the raceway.

On the perforated music-sheet is a line of dots or marks (1, whichextend the length of the same, and at intervals along such line aremarks of expression. This line and the marks of expression indicate tothe operator as the music-sheet travels over the raceway when and how tooperate the instrument when playing to produce the required expressionof the music in playing. Elgg lllllfilflfllQll. 999 the key-bed andthereforethepperator is unfft, 'ng;glass is" rofvfided, vhich is shownin the drawings in F1 gs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11 particularly,in which Knsthe looklass securedtoa board lfi, which at its secured-tomarms M whichare Ni to the blocks n In its normal positioiiit is as shown in dottedline'in Fig. t, the outside Q of its backing-board being finished orornamented as desired, and when playing the instrument it is swung downinto the position, as shown in Figs. 4, (3, and 11, below the musicroll,so that the operator looking into it observes the reflection of theperforated music-sheet and expression-marks, the, and draws or pushesthe handle 1 accordingly and at the same time puts his foot on the pedalL to close. the bellows T to lessen or soften the touch, as desired. Thesticker is made, preferably, in one piece of wood, having its lower endreduced in diameter a short distance therefrom, as at 6 for such portionto extend through the opening f in the rest or support 0 of thepneumatic bellows, the shoulder of the sticker resting 011 the supportand the portion a holding it in place. It can be made by having a pin orwire inserted in the end of the rod to project downward there-' from orin-any suitable manner to holdthe rod in position. The rests or supportsfor the rods are each made of metal in the form of a screw-eye to screwinto the end 71 of the pneumatic-bellows board m, which is a veryconvenient way of making these rests, as they can be secured in any partof the end of the bellows board, and consequently adjusted laterallythereon to be under its respective key 0, so that the sticker will bevertical-and properly in place in relation to its respective key,besides enabling the pneumatic bellows to be arranged in a compact form,so that they can be conveniently placed in the piano, it being almostimpossible otherwise to apply this attachment to the piano as usuallyconstructed without especially building a piano for the purpose orenlarging the casework of a piano to which it is to be applied. Thevalve U to bellows T is to admit air thereto to release the pressureupon thebellows when rewinding the music-sheet upon the musicroll afterplaying the tune for it to be rewound thereon easily; otherwise it wouldrequire as much power to rewind the music-sheet as it does to operatethe instrument in playing the tune. The arm V of the valve U of theexhaust-bellows has the slot V for its lever A connection in order toallow play for such connection when the bellows is being oper ated, butbeing short enough to allow the lever to operate the valve to open it.

The various bell-cranks are connected, as shown, to their respectiveoperating parts by slots, as shown, so that sufficient play will begiven to them to allow for their movements and not interfere with theproper movements of the parts connected therewith.

The operating parts where abuttin against each other or connectedtogether are lined or protected with a soft material, such as felt, toprevent the parts making a noise.

The chambers m are of quite large diameter relative to the diameter ofthe passages t and are arranged in two horizontal rows alter nately, andin order to have roonrfor the airpassages t, leading to the rearones,the Ollttllb bers m in the front row are reduced in diam eter intheir upper part, as shown at m in Figs. 4, 8, and 17 and in dottedlines in the same. This insures thickness of material where theair-passages i extend between the chambers in the front row to those inthe rear row, the air passages entering and communicating with thesmaller part m of the chambers in the front row, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 17. The flexible heads n to the valve E" are madeby securing to the chamber side of the board in which they are made astrip of quite thin flexible sheet material, such as leather, whichcovers all the chambers, and over each chamber serves for the flexiblehead to each valve, allowing the valve to freely operate.

The transverse grooves a in the racewayboard and holes 72 at its outeredge, as shown in Figs. 14:, 14, 15, and 16, are marked G in otherfigures, they being marked in these figures as above to aid in theillustration of the particular manner of constructing the raceway-board.The advantage of the manufacture of the raceway-board, as hereindescribed, is considerable, as it otherwise would take consirable timeto bore or make the holes in a solid piece and great care in doing'so.

This invention isapplicable as well to other musical instruments, suchas organs, (X50.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. A raceway for aperforated music-sheet constructed and consisting of a centralboardhaving transverse grooves in each side extending from each sidealternately beyond the central longitudinal line of the board, a solidpiece secured on one side, a piece se cured on the other side having aseries of holes through its thickness communicating with the grooves inthe side ofthe central board next thereto, a piece secured over theedges of the three pieces secured together having a series of holesthrough its thickness and a series of holes extending into and com 111unicating with said holes, the holes through its thickness communicatingwith the ends of the grooves on the opposite side of the central board,asolid piece secured on the outer side of the latter piece closing theholes on the side thereof next thereto, and a piece secured to the otheredges of the three secured pieces, having a longitudinal row of holesthrough its thickness communicating with the transverse grooves in thecentral board.

2. In a board, a series of chambers in one row at one side, and anotherseries of chambers in one row at the side of said first row andalternating in line therewith, one row of smaller diameter at theirupper ends, and each chamber at its upper end having a tube orair-passage extending forward therefrom and having communicationtherewith and closed at its lower end by a flexible diaphragm.

i In a board, series of chambers in one row at one side and anotherseries of chambers in one row at the side of said first row andalternately in line therewith, one row of smaller diameter at theirupper ends, and each chamber at its upper end havinga tube orair-passage extending forward therefrom and having communicationtherewith and closed at its lower end by a flexible diaphragm, a chamberbelow all of said chambers in which the flexible diaphragms are arrangedto move, a chamber below said chamber, one to eachdiaphragm-chan1be1-,an air-passage to each lower chamber communicatingwith the general chamber, an air-passage to lower chamber opening to theoutside and a valve to each latter air-passage connected to eachdiaphragm respectively.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. POOLE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. ImowN, FLORENCE T. GARRETT.

